Santo Cielo│Chicago, USA

Challenge: Elevating the View, Elevating the Experience

Have you ever seen the breathtaking sunsets in Chicago? As a connoisseur of stunning vistas, you’ll know Santo Cielo Restaurant, perched on the fifth floor of Hotel Indigo in Naperville, offers just that—a skyline sight that resonates deeply. Yet its owners faced a common but critical challenge:

• Visibility vs. Aesthetics: Despite an enviable location, fixed glass walls with center profiles hampered sightlines. The view—the very reason customers arrive—was obstructed, muting the potential ambiance.

• Seamless City Connection: Guests, like the man sipping Scotch and straining to feel the night air, wanted a visceral bond to the city, not a passive, framed encounter.

• Seasonal Comfort: Naperville’s weather means dramatic swings—from cold, biting winter to warm summer nights. But the goal was to harmonize climates without compromising openness.

• Return on Location: Bien Trucha Group invested heavily in this venue to capitalize on its premium positioning. They needed to deliver an experience worthy of that investment: one that made the placement unforgettable.

• Safety Meets Glamour: Opening the walls meant creating terrace-like access—but not at the cost of guest safety or architectural elegance.

In short: the venue needed a mechanism to dissolve boundaries, maximize panoramic views, and adapt to diverse weather conditions—all while feeling safe and stylish.

🔧 Solution: Libart Panora – View Vertical Retracting Windows

To meet this ambitious brief, the team installed 11 powerful Panora vertical retracting window units (model GUGW3), each measuring 3.5m wide × 2.5m high, using insulated 8mm + 16mm + 8mm tempered glass, Tripadvisor.

How the system works:

• Vertical retraction: Glass panels glide downward at the touch of a button, stacking neatly to form a built-in balustrade, or rise out of view when converting the wall to a full-width opening. Panora Systems

• Maximized openness: Regardless of configuration, Panora achieves a usable opening of 66–75% of rough span, effectively delivering 100% usable space with no visual clutter.

• Sleek, uninterrupted design: Center-profile-free glazing offers clean sightlines from every angle—morning to moonlight.

• Built-in safety balustrade: When retracted, the glass remains at railing height, ensuring guest safety while preserving airflow and visibility.

This tailored solution became the cornerstone of Santo Cielo’s transformative guest experience.

Benefits: From Usual Dinner to Heavenly Experience

1. Panoramic Unfiltered Views

Thanks to the frameless glazing, guests now experience a 5th-floor vantage point that feels boundless. Whether basking at dusk or watching the city light up at night, every angle feels immersive—no obstructions, just ambiance.

2. Effortless Indoor-Outdoor Flexibility

With a click, the walls retract, transforming the restaurant into an al fresco haven. Patrons can enjoy open-air seating under the stars or cozy indoor comfort—effortlessly and instantly.

3. Weather-Adaptive Comfort

In colder seasons, the system seals tight to block wind, cold, or rain—while preserving rooftop views. When the weather warms, it opens up, inviting refreshing breezes and ambient night air. This dynamic range ensures year-round enjoyment.

4. Safeguarded, Stylish Access

Retraction maintains a sturdy glass balustrade, offering the illusion of openness while prioritizing safety—ideal for high-altitude dining without compromise.

5. A Luxury Lift to Brand Ambience

Lifestyle blogger and Forbes contributor Megy Karydes declares:

“Santo Cielo hopes to take the Bien Trucha group to new heights… featuring sleek, monochromatic interiors and retractable windows that bring the views… indoors year-round.”

This endorsement reflects the venue’s new identity—a place where skylines, culinary artistry, and design elegance align.

6. Operational Ease & Enhanced Layout

The motorized system integrates seamlessly with restaurant operations. It’s quick to operate, reliable, and eliminates the need for tracks or manual handling—preserving valuable interior layout and guest flow.

7. Return on High-End Investment

Built atop Hotel Indigo and commanding a premium install cost, Santo Cielo needed equal impact. This architectural feature allows the venue to fully leverage its altitude, location, and view—delivering an experience that feels exclusive and exceptional.

Summary Table

Final Word: Heavenly Dining at Santo Cielo

At Santo Cielo Restaurant, the Libart Panora vertical retracting window system doesn’t just modify a facade—it redefines how you dine at altitude. Sip your evening cocktail, feeling enveloped in city lights, without feeling confined.

The result? A place where boundaries blur, luxury meets nature, and cityscape meets culinary craft—a design triumph that matches the ambition of Bien Trucha Group.